InterviewNatchez...Juvigny October 2007 the 6th
Interview of Dédé Dufour and Ben by Philippe Archambeau

October
2007 the 6th will be an unforgettable date for the French Southern Rock fans,
because it was NATCHEZ 20th anniversary and they have recorded a show at Juvigny,
near Châlons-en-Champagne, for their first DVD. NATCHEZ, the one thousand
shows in twenty years band, with the famous Aeschbach brothers, could stop
this evening and we got the opportunity to make an interview
of the rhythm section, I mean Dédé Dufour on bass and Ben on
drums.

RTJ
: Hello Dédé and Ben, thank you to accept this interview at
the occasion of this special
NATCHEZ 20 years party.
Before talking about music, can you explain us where does come the name of
the band ?

Dédé
: The name of the group comes from an Indian tribe from Mississippi that was
destroyed by the French army, and we all love the Indian people. We watched
western movies with John Wayne.
We just cared about them, we didnt care about the cowboys.

RTJ : You arrived in the band in 1992. Can you explain us how did you come
?
Did you know Natchez before ?

Dédé
: Yes, yes, I met them in 1987 in Langres. I was playing with another band
called Fahrenheit.
I knew their bass player since 1987. In 1992 I was playing with the band Les
Indiens Psychédéliques, and Natchez bass player called me to
join them.

RTJ
: So you knew them before. With which bands did you play before ?

Dédé
: As I just told you, I was in Fahrenheit and then with Les Indiens Psychédéliques,
already the Indian people as you can see.

RTJ : You were made to play with the American native people. Just one word
about les Indiens Psychédéliques, you told me about a CD from
this band. Can you tell me more about it and
what kind of music are they playing ?

Dédé
: Les Indiens, its more psychedelic, as the name says it, more rock
n roll sometimes punk.
Its a kind of Hendrix with a lot of power and a touch of Blues. Im
going to remaster all the songs
and try to get something good, as the songs were recorded on a small record
machine.
I want to keep a souvenir of these times I did enjoy. Im going to try
to make a good product.

RTJ
: Did you go on tour with that band ?

Dédé
: Yes, we played 70 shows in 18 months. After we disbanded, we were disintegrated

Ben
: I listened to different Blues and Funk bands. Not too much American Rock
bands.
I listened to old Rock n Roll, but with the exception of ZZ Top, no
other American groups.

Dédé
: I listened to English Rock bands, such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Cream,
the Yardbirds,
all this stuff I dig it !

RTJ
: Were you Black Crowes fans ?

Dédé
: I know this band for a long time, before I played with Natchez.
Im very happy they play Hard to Handle.

RTJ
: Its quite a religion in Natchez to enjoy the Black Crowes.

Dédé
: Yes, its one of our favourite bands.

RTJ
: And what about Blackfoot ?

Dédé
: Yes, I already saw them on stage in 1981 or 1982 with Iron Maiden in Reims.

RTJ
: We could notice, on the photographs, that you are looking a little bit like
Greg T. Walker, Blackfoot bass player. Do you choose your clothes because
of that ?

Dédé
: No, in fact, it happened by chance. I had this look and the feather on my
bass guitar for a long time when I began to play with Natchez. On one day
after a show, a guy came and told me I was looking like Blackfoot bassist.
Come tomorrow, Ill give you some feathers

RTJ
: Lets talk now about the 2007 event, the issue of the new Natchez CD
called Catch The Spirit. First question : can you explain me this name ?

Dédé
: It came from something that happened in our recording studio. There is a
bottle-opener kit whose label is Thunder and where it is written Catch
the Spirit. You open the bottle and the capsule falls in a garbage can.
Weve thought that this sentence was perfect to fit with the CD cover
with the Indian picture.

Ben
: I didnt know that !

Dédé
: You were sleeping

RTJ
: For the first time, Natchez plays songs written in English.
How did you choose that, and what does it change ?

Dédé
: It doesnt change anything. Richie has written the texts in English.
Hes in charge of Natchez sound and texts.
He made the arrangements and sang the choruses on the four songs the band
recorded.

RTJ
: Where has been recorded that album ?

Dédé
: At Châlons-en-Champagne, at the PNF Studios, like our former album
Retour à la Source.

Ben
: Fred Rochette recorded it.

RTJ
: How did you record it ?

Ben
: We have recorded all the songs live.

RTJ
: I do appreciate you Blackfoot Railroad Man cover. You already
played it live, but the way you recorded it is even better. How did you choose
that song ?

Dédé
: I think its our singer Babachs choice. I think this song is
great for his voice.
However we were obliged to rehearse a lot before we get what we wanted.

Ben
: Ive enjoyed this song as soon as Ive heard it.

RTJ
: How did you choose the covers on that album ? Did you choose them because
they fit to your singer voice ?

Dédé
: No, no, we have chosen some not so famous songs, except Black Crowes Hard
To Handle and Doobie Brothers China Groove. And we also
have chosen Neil Young Rockin In The Free World that we
worked on to get our own version.

RTJ
: What is the cover you didnt do and you d have wished to do ?

Dédé
: Id have enjoyed recording the Neil Young cover.

RTJ
: What is your favourite Natchez song on that album ?
Its the first time you have recorded songs with English lyrics.

Dédé
: Looking Out The Window. Its a real Natchez song and somewhere
not really. It looks like Tom Petty, that kind of songs, thats why I
think this song is a little bit different from the others.

Ben
: Looking Out The Window is very well mixed. But I think my favourite
Natchez song is Street Fightin Man that is heavy, tough
and I dig that song !

RTJ
: So how was the recording session and when did you did it ?

Dédé
: In July, just before our vacations. We recorded the whole album in four
days.

RTJ
: And you were in a hurry to leave and go on vacations ?

Dédé
: Yes, thats exactly what we wanted, to record just before vacations.

Dédé
: Yes, if there is no problem. And after well go again on vacations.
We are tired to wee the two other musicians. You have noticed they didnt
come for your interview (laughs)

RTJ
: So, in a kind of conclusion, can you remind us of a little story that happened
with the band ?

Dédé
: No, no story about the band, but we often talk together with Ben, there
are two brothers in the group and sometimes we think it will be good for the
bands fame that they fight together ; it sure will help to get the group
famous But they dont do that, thats boring !

Ben
: Yes ! It could be good for us. But they are too close, they never fight.

Dédé
: Thats pity, Id like they fight together, maybe on stage.. after
its cool. But they dont wanna do that. I told Manu that his brother
is looking at his wife, but he doesnt believe me

RTJ
: Last on traditional question on RTJ. If you have to spend the rest of your
life on a desert island, which could be the albums you take with you ?

Ben
: One AC/DC, one Maceo Parker, some funk, the Black Crowes, but I listened
to Bon Jovi before. And a Queen album.

Dédé
: Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street,
these two extraordinary albums.
I think I also take the Beatles Let It Be, Led Zep House
of the Holy, Black Crowes first album,
Michel Krause, Cream, The Yardbirds There are so many groups